The best food for cats: according to reviews from veterinarians and buyers

Types of cat food

A cat owner can feed his pet in one of two ways:

• natural food;
• store-bought (industrial) feed.

Each method of feeding a cat involves several types of food.

Natural food is food for the cat prepared by the owner from good quality products. We are not talking about home-cooked food for people, but about dishes prepared specifically for the animal (taking into account its age, body characteristics, breed and health status).

You can also purchase ready-made balanced natural diets in online stores. This food is usually delivered frozen and is an excellent choice for those who prefer to feed their pets a natural diet.

Industrial feeds are divided into several categories by type and class. The types may be as follows:

• dry food (in the form of granules);
• wet food (canned food in the form of pates, jellies);
• raw natural food;
• medical lines (for cats with health problems);
• treats (special treats that do not carry a calorie load).

All store-bought cat food is divided into 4 classes:

• economy class (these are budget products that contain almost no meat);
• premium class (they contain natural meat, but also artificial additives);
• super premium (expensive, practically no dyes, contains a lot of meat);
• holistic class (the most expensive, up to 90% meat, do not contain dyes or preservatives).

What food to choose for a cat

When choosing food for your pet, pay attention to a few points:

1. Age and health of the cat. The food must correspond to the condition of the animal: a kitten should not be fed with food for adult cats, a cat prone to obesity should not be fed with fatty food, etc.
2. Type of food (dry or wet, raw natural).
3. Composition of the future purchase.

It is important to decide on the type of food in advance. The fact is that these products are different in their composition and digestibility. Feeding with dry food should be accompanied by plenty of drinking (pellets contain approximately 10% moisture, and this is not enough for the animal to fully nourish itself). Wet food contains 80–85% moisture and does not need to be washed down. But feeding only canned food can be expensive. Some brands of canned food are packaged in small pouches (one pouch is designed for 1 time, but in total you may need up to 7 pieces per day). Raw natural food has the required amount of moisture, is high in calories - sometimes one bag a day is enough, and is perfectly digestible.

Pouches are intended for one complete feeding of a cat.

Mixing different brands of food is not recommended. But to feed a cat, you can combine wet and dry food if we are talking about products of the same brand.

Many of my friends leave their cats dry food in a bowl for the whole day (while they are at work) and a full bowl of fresh water. And in the evening they pamper their pets with wet food. Yes, mustachioed pets prefer wet food. But dry during the day is the best option. Firstly, cat owners can calculate the daily requirement in advance and leave everything at once (and the cat will distribute this food over the required number of times). Secondly, dry food is good for teeth. Cat breeders I know who feed their cats pellets never complain about the health of their cat's teeth.

If you feed natural diets, we recommend feeding them twice a day, morning and evening, with an interval of 6 to 10 hours. This type of food is natural for the animal and has the most beneficial effect on the health of both the entire body and the teeth in particular.

The quality of the food can be determined by its composition. The food should be well balanced - a lot of meat, few carbohydrates. The word “meat” does not necessarily mean pieces of veal pulp or tenderloin from a rack of lamb, but proteins of animal origin:

• natural fresh meat;
• dehydrated meat and fish;
• by-products and processed meat and fish products;
• bone flour.

The record holders for the quality and quantity of fresh meat, fish and eggs used in the production are Acana, Orijen and SUPERPET feeds, 75–85% and even 93% consisting of meat ingredients, up to 2/3 of which are added fresh. In addition to muscle meat, these foods also contain high-quality by-products - heart, cartilage and tripe, which attract animals and are a rich source of nutrients. Considering that Acana and Orijen and SUPERPET foods are grain- and potato-free and have very low carbohydrate content, they are an excellent choice for feeding obligate carnivores such as cats. It is not without reason that Acana, Orijen and SUPERPET belong to the class of biologically appropriate feeds, whose composition is as close as possible to the diet that animals eat in nature.

SUPERPET food consists of 93% meat ingredients

Veterinarian advice

When a cat owner asks a veterinarian which food is best to choose, most likely the advice will be the same - the more expensive option. The fact is that veterinarians often encounter cat diseases that arise from improperly balanced food. Dyes, artificial flavors, allergens - all this leads to various ailments. Therefore, professionals are trusted by high-quality food, which simply cannot be cheap.

However, now Russian-made food of very decent quality and affordable price, belonging to the super-premium class, is appearing on the market. Among such brands we can name the Blitz trademark, which is distinguished by its high content of meat components - chicken, turkey, lamb, as well as the absence of wheat as the most allergenic of grains. Blitz food does not contain dyes or artificial preservatives, but is enriched with live probiotics, Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids and other valuable additives that help maintain animal health.

Excellent quality and attractive prices for the SUPERPET line of food. These natural, balanced foods contain more than 93% meat, do not undergo high-temperature processing, therefore retain all nutrients and, in addition, are enriched with vitamins and microelements. Does not contain grains, dyes, preservatives or flavor enhancers.

Blitz is a Russian-made food of very decent quality, which does not contain wheat, which often causes allergies in cats.

When purchasing food, look at the percentage of meat by-products.
The Pro-Plan that my cat eats contains 20% turkey, which is a super premium food. In Whiskas, Kitiket and others like them - 4%. Good feeds are Pro-Plan, Hills, Eukanuba, Yams, Advance. Royal Canina does not indicate the amount of meat. As for money, a 7 kg bag of Pro-Plan will be cheaper than Whiskas, where you pay mainly for advertising. There is no need to give anything other than food, since it is complete and was invented for this purpose, so that the owners do not fool themselves. Simba, forum user, veterinarian https://www.veterinarka.ru/forum/t15307.html

In addition, one of the veterinarian’s recommendations may be a warning about the diet itself. After all, no matter how good the store-bought food is, the owner of the animal can negatively affect the health of the pet by violating the feeding rules.

Choose among the expensive ones and feed only it; there is no need to dilute or alternate with natural food.
DOCTOR-VeT, forum user, veterinarian https://www.vetmedicus.ru/forum7/topic13573.php

Most often, veterinarians advise feeding pets industrial food.

Experts often advise switching pets to a special (therapeutic) diet. Our family has never had to go to the vet for our cat's diet, but my sister's cat suffers from urolithiasis. A couple of years ago he had a severe exacerbation, the veterinarian said that it was due to a metabolic disorder. Indeed, my sister fed Donut both meat and fish, but he never ate milk or dairy products. A lot of phosphorus accumulated in the body, but there was not enough calcium, so stones formed. The veterinarian recommended that they switch to medicinal food (Urinary) - several brands have such a line.

For a cat who has given birth, I advise you to switch to Hills feeding for kittens, it is higher in calories and will replenish the energy that is spent on feeding kittens and recovering after birth.
Vikki-Vikki, user, veterinarian https://forum.webmvc.com/index.php?/topic/4361-feeding-cats/

According to veterinarians, it is better to immediately discard food if it contains one (or more) of the following ingredients:

• potatoes (this is a product with a high glycemic index, which means it can lead to diabetes);
• the liver of any birds and animals - it is believed that it is capable of retaining toxins for a long time, so its consumption is potentially dangerous;
• soy protein concentrate (it is an allergen; there are cases when soy in the feed is classified as GMO);
• animal mixture (may contain hair, claws, hooves, feathers) - very allergenic;
• corn and its processed products, wheat, flour made from it, gluten are allergens;
• any artificial additives (the letter E will help you detect them);
• salt in any quantity;
• yeast.

By remembering this list, you will be able to choose the most healthy cat food, even from an inexpensive series.

Video: Farmina veterinarian's opinion on cat food

Types of dry food

It is very convenient to feed pets with dry food. It saves time, does not require special storage conditions and additional mineral and vitamin complexes. The food is completely balanced, kittens receive all the necessary substances from it. However, not all ready-made diets available on store shelves are of high quality. It is not recommended to feed cats of any age with advertised, cheap products. It contains ingredients of dubious quality.

All cat food is divided into classes:

• Holistics are the best choice for small pets, sterilized cats, and weakened animals. They consist only of high-quality natural ingredients suitable even for human nutrition. The composition includes a huge amount of minerals and vitamins, beneficial plant components.
• Super premium - slightly inferior in composition to the previous type of food, but suitable for kittens.
• Premium - cheaper than holistic products and super premium products. Accordingly, the quality of raw materials is lower. This food can be fed to kittens, but not daily.
• Economy - not recommended for consumption. Such diets consist of low-quality by-products, cheap cereal additives, artificial flavor enhancers and other elements harmful to the growing body.

Diets are divided depending on the age of the kitten:

• up to 12 weeks;
• up to 10 months (for some manufacturers up to 1 year).

Although kittens can start eating a full diet at two months of age, experts recommend feeding dry food starting at 8 months unless there is a particular need for it.

Cat food rating 2022

In different food ratings, some products change places, but the meaning remains the same - only the most popular among pet owners for a certain period are included in the TOP.

Economy class feed

The following brands have been the favorite economy class foods for a long time:

• Purina One;
• "Night Hunter";
• "Every day";
• Whiskeys;
• Wellkiss;
• Felix;
• Kitekat.

Table: comparison of economy class feeds

Photo gallery: the best economy class food in 2022

Kitekat is a cheap food that can be found in any supermarket

Although Purina One is an economy class food, veterinarians often recommend it to their patients

Night Hunter cat food is a relatively new brand of pet food, which from the first days began to enjoy the trust of customers

Veterinarians and breeders of purebred cats are dissatisfied with the quality of Whiskas, but the animals themselves simply adore this product

Felix food is a more budget-friendly option for Purina One

Video: examination of popular cheap cat food

Premium segment products

Popular premium segment foods include:

• Royal Canin;
• Hill's;
• Brit;
• "Our brand";
• Berkley;
• Pro Plan;
• ProBalance
• Sheba;
• Happy Cat;
• Iams;
• 1ST Choica;
• Gourmet.

Table: comparison of the most popular premium foods

Photo gallery: premium cat food

Veterinarians trust Royal Canin food, as manufacturers offer a wide veterinary line

Sheba is only wet food, but this brand has many lines

The Hill's brand has many foods with different flavors and for animals of different ages.

Even with a limited number of Gourmet foods, you can choose the right option with the right taste

Pro Plan is one of the products of Purina, which has long been popular among Russian consumers

Super premium food

The most popular super premium food among buyers:

• Pronature Original;
• Gina;
• Bozita;
• Flatazor;
• 1st Choice;
• Bosch;
• Organix;
• Schesir;
• Brit Care;
• Leonardo;
• Monge.

Super premium foods are harder to find than their cheaper counterparts. Some cat owners have to order them from suppliers (this also guarantees quality). In addition, now you can place an order through online stores, in which case you can receive the goods at home.

Table: popular super premium foods

Photo gallery: super premium cat food

1st Choice super premium food cannot boast of a large number of types

Pronature Original food does not contain dyes or flavors

Gina super premium food is highly valued by veterinarians for its high quality

Unlike many other high quality foods, cats like Bozita

Bosch products do not contain soy protein, all protein comes from animal products

Holistic segment feed

The best holistic foods, according to cat owners, include:

• Innova;
• Acana;
• Almo Nature;
• Farmina N&D;
• Nature Holistic;
• Orijen;
• Gina Elite;
• Grandorf;
• Barking Heads;
• Savarra;
• !;
• Now;
• SUPERPET.

Table: comparison of the best holistic foods

Photo gallery: popular luxury cat food

When purchasing Almo Nature wet food in packaging (for example, 12 cans), their price will be lower

Not all cats eat expensive foods such as Pronature Holistic because they do not contain flavor or odor enhancers.

Even humans can eat food like Innova

Feed Go! can only be ordered directly from class=”aligncenter” width=”600″ height=”588″[/img] Lesser-known holistic foods, such as Now, can be purchased at the price of a premium product

SUPERPET food with turkey will appeal to even picky pets

Food with different flavors

Manufacturers try their best to make food more attractive to consumers and healthier for cats. To do this, recipe developers and veterinary nutritionists create products with different flavors. Moreover, it is absolutely not necessary that the food contains exactly the meat that is indicated on the label. Most economy, premium and super premium class products contain flavorings. Of course, some owners understand this trick perfectly well, but what can you do to please your pet?

However, raw natural food does not suffer from this, since you yourself can see what kind of meat the product is made from; the ingredients are visible to the naked eye. For example, SUPERPET food is made from natural chicken, turkey, beef, duck and rabbit. And without the use of fragrances.

There are foods with the following flavors:

• chicken (Whiskas for kittens with chicken, 1st Choice Vitality);
• beef (Kitekat beef in jelly, Almo Nature Beef&Rice);
• rabbit (Monge Rabbit);
• beef tongue (Sheba from veal and tongue, Dinner Menu No. 7);
• lamb (Acana Grasslands);
• ducks (Innova Evo 95 Duck, Sheba mini, Monge Duck);
• turkey (Sheba with turkey in Bechamel sauce);
• liver (Brit Premium with chicken and chicken liver);
• salmon (Sheba mini, Whiskas for kittens stew with salmon);
• tuna (Monge Tonno Del Pacifico Con Salmone);
• shrimp, seafood (Monge Fantasia Di Mare Con Pollo, Schesir with chicken and shrimp);
• trout (Sanabelle Adult with trout);
• anchovies (Monge Anchovies);
• combinations of meat/fish with vegetables/fruits (Farmina N&D fish and orange, Pronature with turkey and cranberries).

Some manufacturers produce food with “rare” flavors (shrimp, seafood, fruit, etc.)

What is the best food for kittens?

Despite the large selection of food from various manufacturers, finding the optimal nutrition for your pet is quite difficult. To do this, it is necessary to take into account many factors: the reliability of the manufacturer, balanced composition, type of feed and much more. At the same time, you should not chase expensive premium foods; often they differ from budget products only in cost.

To make the choice easier, let's summarize the article:

• Royal Canin wet food provides complete nutrition for kittens that they instinctively prefer.
• The Schesir company offers food based on natural ingredients.
• Pro Plan Nutrisavour food promotes the full growth and development of the kitten’s body.
• The products of the Italian brand Monge are made from environmentally friendly raw materials.
• Purina CAT CHOW dry food contains only premium quality natural ingredients.
• Royal Canin kitten food is highly digestible.
• Farmina N&D Prime is a holistic product.
• Hill's Science Plan dry food contains a large amount of meat.

We hope our review will help you choose the best food for kittens.
Good luck! Thanks to All.ru in Yandex Zen. Daily updates, subscribe, we have a lot of interesting things

The best specialized cat foods

Specialized foods are those products whose formulation was developed taking into account the characteristics of cats:

1. Belonging to a certain breed. For example, long-haired cats need more fiber, and Siamese and Oriental cats eat a lot, so their food should be more dietary, etc.

   Siamese cats can eat a lot, so their food contains fewer calories.

2. The age of the animal. Kittens need high-calorie foods, but older cats need less energy.
3. Cat activities. For example, animals that spend a lot of time outdoors need more dense food.
4. The physical condition of the animal.

The physical condition of the animal means not only diseases (food still cannot cure them), but also a predisposition to any ailments. Currently, products are produced for mustachioed pets with the following diseases and conditions:

• diabetes mellitus (Monge Diabetic, Royal Canin Diabetic DS46);
• urolithiasis (Hill's K/D or Urinary Care series);
• thyroid diseases (Hill's y/d);
• tendency to be overweight (Monge Obesity, Hill's Metabolic);
• skin diseases (Monge Dermatosis);
• orthopedic problems (Hill's j/d series, Royal Canin Mobility MC28);
• prone to dental diseases (Royal Canin Dental DS029);
• liver pathologies (Monge Hepatic, Royal Canin Hepatic HF26);
• recovering from operations (Hill's a/d);
• disorders of the gastrointestinal tract or sensitive digestion (Bosch Sanabelle Sensitive Lamb, Go! Sensitivity + Shine);
• poor appetite or capricious taste (Royal Canin Savour Exigent 35/30).

In many cats, urolithiasis develops in parallel with weight gain; for such animals, Metabolic + Urinary food from Hill's is suitable

A separate specialized line includes food for pregnant and nursing mothers. It is important that the cat receives a lot of vitamins and nutrients that will be beneficial to both her and future kittens. Most large manufacturers develop baby food lines in such a way that the nutrition meets the needs of the expectant mother:

• Monge Kitten;
• Royal Canin Pediatric Queen;
• Now Natural Holistic (complete food for all cats);
• Royal Canin Mother & Babycat (for kittens, pregnant and lactating cats);

  Kitten food is also suitable for pregnant and lactating cats, as it contains all the nutrients necessary for healthy growth of the baby.

• Pro Plan Junior (for kittens and their mothers);
• Brit Care Cat Crazy Kitten (everyday food for kittens and nursing cats);
• Bozita Feline Kitten.

The best and most popular foods for sterilized cats are the following products:

• Pro Plan Sterilized;
• Monge Sterilized Cat;
• Royal Canin Young male;
• Almo Nature Functional Adult Sterilized;
• 1st Choice Sterilized;
• Grandorf 4 Meat & Brown Rice Sterilized

Foods for sterilized animals and fattening cats have similar compositions - this is a low-calorie diet

Video: how dry animal food is made

Cat food reviews

I have two cats living at home: 1 and 1.5–2 years old.
Both are outbred. For 6–8 months they ate kitiket, whiskey and food “from the table”. Both are still healthy. I decided to switch them to a normal diet. I have very little money, so I can hardly afford to constantly feed them with expensive super-premiums. For now I'm taking perfect fit: in home. Maxim_1, forum newcomer https://www.veterinarka.ru/forum/t15307.html

And we had problems with Royal Canin food at first.
I bought it for Persian cats, it didn’t suit us, although I have a Persian at home. Individual intolerance began. I switched to food for allergy sufferers and everything went back to normal. My Marishka ate the food normally, without much zeal, but then over time she got used to it and eats it with pleasure. The main thing is that the food suits her and her health problems have gone away. I think this is important. Elena, forum user https://www.vetmedicus.ru/forum7/topic13573.php

Any premium food that you like, I advise as a breeder, not as a veterinarian.
I feed mine with royals, there were several attempts to change them, both were not very successful, I decided why bother if the cats like it and their condition suits me with this food. They love digestive, outdoor, and sometimes I take a couple more for variety. Delicate, forum user https://www.u-mama.ru/forum/family/pets/563524/

I only gave canned brit, the cats seemed to like it, now I switched to alma nature, they like canned food more (although they look and smell similar to brit).
sunnik, forum visitor https://www.zoovet.ru/forum/?tid=35&tem=694003

We have been eating Grandorf fish for 2 months.
With gusto. Both cats' stools returned to normal - one became softer, the other's diarrhea decreased, the stool became more regular, she can't eat chicken, so she eats fish food. Eyes and ears are clean. They scamper like trotters. But today I saw abundant dandruff on both of them, large, on the back. Once a day I give each person an additional 50g. Happy cat with jelly + 50 gr. water as additional moisture. But mostly the cat eats. Vuber, forum user https://mauforum.ru/viewtopic.php?p=2771720

But Grendorf's 2 kg bags are gorgeous.
Farmina fell apart after a week. ShotKot, forum user https://mauforum.ru/viewtopic.php?p=2771720

At one time I fed my cat only food from the table, but on one of the stormy days my pet got poisoned.
As a result, I had to take him to the veterinary clinic. The doctor advised me to feed my cats dry food, as it contains a lot of proteins and nutrients. I spent a long time selecting different types of food and now I only use Acana. Valeria, forum user https://forum.veterinar.by/topic/91-a-kto-chem-kormit-koshku/page__st__20

I wonder what the composition of canned GO food is.
We don't have them for sale. But I was disappointed with the composition of Shezir dry food. I saw it on sale here. It turned out to be with corn. brau, forum visitor https://www.zoovet.ru/forum/?tid=35.&tem=800111

Yesterday I bought Hills for older cats and dry and a jar of canned food to try.
I mixed it with whiskey and he eats it with pleasure, and Hills eats it first. Marisol, forum user https://www.veterinarka.ru/forum/t173.html

I transferred the cats to Pronature Holistic.
Grandorf can be added a little to the main food to relieve constipation: this food does an excellent job with this. marlah, forum user https://mauforum.ru/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=53439&start=110

My cat got away from Whiskas earlier, by starving the cat we moved to Hills too.
You just need to not coddle with him, but use tough methods. He won’t die of hunger, but he will switch to normal food and there will be no problems! Mavr, forum user https://www.veterinarka.ru/forum/t173.html

What's better?

Even experts sometimes argue which food is better to choose for a small pet - dry or wet. In this case, it is better to focus on the breed of the animal, its age, the personal preferences of the owner and his financial capabilities.

But you should remember that you should not feed your animal food from economy-class manufacturers. They do not contain natural meat, and the amount of vitamins and nutrients is negligible. In addition, flavorings and preservatives are added to them to ensure shelf life and improve taste.

Natural food for cats

With natural feeding, you cannot simply boil a few foods and offer them to your cat. This is a complex job that requires painstaking calculations, time and money. Sometimes natural feeding is more expensive than elite store-bought food. After all, cat food should be prepared only from specific products. In addition, with natural nutrition, the animal most often requires additional support in the form of vitamin supplements (to choose them, you need to consult a veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist).

I feed my younger cat natural food (if we have to leave home for a long time, we leave super premium dry food in the bowl). Over the years of raising tailed animals, I have adapted to distribute my time so that preparing cat food takes no more time than preparing dinner for the family. I buy products for this in a regular supermarket (it’s better to buy meat in large pieces, and vegetables in small quantities so that they don’t spoil). But I was lucky enough to communicate with a family where the wife specifically goes to the market to buy food for cats. She spends all her free time in the kitchen (and they also have dogs).

What can and should be given to your pet

Here is a list of products from which you need to make up your pet’s diet:

• Meat and offal (beef, veal, lamb). Meat products can be given boiled or raw; in the latter case, it is recommended to freeze it.
• Chicken, turkey and offal. Give in the same way as meat, but both should be at least 60% of the daily diet.
• Sea or ocean fish (salmon, trout, etc.) - give only once a week and boiled.
• Egg. Give only the boiled yolk no more than 2 times a week.
• Low-fat fermented milk products (ryazhenka, Varenets, kefir, unsalted cheese).
• Cereals (rice, oatmeal, buckwheat) in the form of porridges mixed with boiled meat or fish.
• Vegetables and herbs (in any form and in any quantity).
• Grass for cats (can be in any quantity).
• Vitamin supplements.

The basis of a cat's diet when feeding it naturally should be meat.

What foods should you exclude from your diet?

It is important to remember those foods that are prohibited for cats:

• milk (only for kittens up to 3 months, and the body of adult cats does not digest it);
• fatty foods (sour cream, pork, lard, etc. - can lead to pancreatitis);
• raw fish and raw, unfrozen meat (they may contain parasites, in addition, frequent consumption of fish can lead to metabolic disorders);
• bones (any - they can get stuck in the throat or damage internal organs);
• potatoes and other carbohydrate vegetables (foods that contain a lot of starch can lead to diabetes);
• white cabbage (leads to bloating);
• eggplants and mushrooms (potentially dangerous for cats and can cause severe poisoning);
• salt (can lead to metabolic disorders, electrolyte imbalance, kidney stones);
• spices (very dangerous in any form, leading to serious disruptions to the gastrointestinal tract);
• sugar (promotes weight gain, leads to dental problems, diabetes);
• chocolate (may cause allergies);
• onions and garlic (contain disulfide, which destroys red blood cells and can lead to blood diseases).

Cats are skilled manipulators; sometimes they skillfully and pitifully beg for their favorite food, even if they are not very hungry. The owner who has chosen natural food for a cat should learn to refuse it. There is an opinion that animals “know best what is good for them.” This principle is often used to feed cats in rural areas. But feeding your cat what she chooses can lead to serious health problems.

Animals that eat store-bought food also sometimes ask for something “human,” but not so often. The owner of such an animal can kick the cat out of the kitchen with a clear conscience, because the store-bought product already has a balanced composition. And if it seems to you that your pet lacks vitamins, so she asks, for example, for fish, consult a veterinarian - he can prescribe a good vitamin complex.

Good pet feeding habits develop over the years. For example, members of my family have adapted to pampering cats with harmless “sweets.” My younger cat loves ice cream in cups, but it is fatty and sweet, and there are too many chemicals in such food. Now we are preparing special cat ice cream (it turns out that it is not so difficult). When a cat asks for smoked sausage, this does not mean at all that it is attracted by the pepper-garlic aroma that we like so much - the cat sees a long piece of minced meat. That's why we learned how to make sausage. There are many recipes on the Internet that do not require complex products and masterful talents.

Cats should not be fed food from the human table, even if they piteously beg for it.

The importance of feed quality

Kittens often go to a new home at the age of 2-3 months. Usually, responsible breeders have already completed the necessary vaccinations by this time and accustomed the animal to regular food. When choosing food for kittens, owners should study veterinarian reviews especially carefully, especially if the pet is considered a purebred. But it is also important for an ordinary kitten to receive all the necessary vitamins and minerals from food for harmonious development.

The pet supply market offers many products from different manufacturers. Sometimes it can be difficult for the average cat lover to understand them. But the food must contain the necessary microelements and vitamins so that the pet’s digestive, muscular and skeletal systems do not suffer. Kitten food (reviews confirm this) also has a great influence on the quality of the coat.

General feeding recommendations

A cat's taste preferences are formed in early childhood. Therefore, you need to start accustoming to the chosen diet as early as possible. But if you get an adult cat that has developed gastronomic preferences, then you don’t need to “starve” it out. If the cat is not fed at all in a new home, this will not lead to the desired educational effect, but to stress and digestive problems. Any changes in diet must be introduced to the animal carefully and gradually.

It is important not to make a mistake in choosing a bowl - it must certainly be comfortable. For solid food, use a stable bowl so that it does not “ride” on the floor; for water, a small plate (for example, a saucer, from which it is convenient to lap) is most convenient. And for dry food, dishes with high walls are ideal (so that the granules do not scatter throughout the apartment). Don’t forget about the materials: the bowl should be metal, porcelain or ceramic. Bright, attractive plastic bowls are fraught with a lot of dangers. They are difficult to wash, and pathogenic microbes can become embedded in scratches on the walls.

Do not forget about the freshness of food and drinking regime (the cat must have constant access to fresh, clean water). Any food (porridge or ready-made food) must be at the correct temperature; there is no need to offer your cat boiled meat or pate only from the refrigerator. The best temperature is room temperature.

Every cat owner has a collection of unusual stories with their tailed pet in the lead role. We have a lot of water related things in our family. For example, every time my cat bathes, she expresses her royal dissatisfaction with everything that happens, but silently endures the entire procedure. But she loves to splash under the tap on her own. She also hates bowls that someone has touched with dirty hands. She will only drink from dishes that have just been washed with cold water (it is necessary that there are still droplets of water on the edges of the bowl). Her favorite drinking bowls are my mug, painting palette, and flower pot saucer. By the way, she also eats cat grass only after watering.

Dishes for cats must be correctly selected in size, volume and shape.

How to switch a cat from one food to another

Almost every cat owner has come to the thought of whether it’s time to change food. Some people, without hesitation, choose food from other manufacturers and from the very first day give the cat new, unusual food. Such drastic changes are fraught with even more serious problems than they were with the old diet.

Others cannot decide for months to take such an important action, because the pet is already accustomed to one food. But sometimes we have to change food for reasons beyond our control:

• an allergy appeared to the usual food;
• the food has become worse due to a change in manufacturer;
• problems with purchasing (feed has become more expensive, the neighboring store has closed).

Veterinarians themselves often recommend changing food. In fact, this procedure is not that difficult. Proceed as follows:

1. For the first 3 days, add about a quarter of the new food to the usual food (you can mix the food so that the cat cannot choose).
2. For another 3 days, mix old and new food in a 50:50 ratio.
3. For the next 3 days, add 25% of the old food to the new food.

So within 9 days your cat will completely get used to it and switch to the new food. If the pet refuses to eat new food at all, then there are many other tricks: rewarding with a treat, a day of fasting, etc.

The cat can be fed natural food or ready-made store-bought food. The latter option is more convenient, but you should not get confused when choosing the best product. Veterinarians advise comparing food compositions, because this is the only way to evaluate the quality of cat food. But no matter what food you choose for your pet, this food should be suitable for your cat. After all, her health and longevity depend on proper nutrition.

Whiskas

Price for dry food, 350 g: 99 rub.

Price for wet food, 85 g: 19 rub.

The international brand Whiskas was developed in America by Mars. Judging by numerous consumer reviews, their cats love and enjoy eating Whiskas!

No side effects were found in cats after consuming the food, but the animal does not need to be fed often; in addition, it is necessary to include homemade food in the diet.

All the ingredients included in the food are natural, the only negative is that there is not much protein in it. There is a wide range of cat treats to choose from: beef, lamb, chicken, duck, etc.

Key points about feeding a kitten

Veterinarians in reviews of kitten food indicate that it is better to prefer premium products. High-quality brands are fully balanced and meet the needs of a young animal’s body.

But often owners want to pamper their pet with homemade food. In this case, you should follow some rules:

1. Do not salt the finished product.
2. Raw meat can be given only after freezing. This eliminates possible microorganisms.
3. If the animal is castrated, then it should not be offered fish.
4. Fatty foods and butter are contraindicated for kittens.
5. The fish must be boiled before serving to prevent the appearance of worms.
6. Sausage, frankfurters and pork should absolutely not be given to kittens.

Pros and cons of wet food

The benefits of wet food are generally exactly the same as those of dry food. But its main difference is that it can partially satisfy the pet in liquid. In addition, after consumption you do not need as much water as after dry.

The disadvantages of the wet option also relate to its price, especially if you purchase a premium quality brand. It should be taken into account that if you constantly feed wet kibble, you need to take care of anti-tartar agents.

What food is best for kittens? Reviews on the Internet can be found contradictory. The choice primarily depends on the composition of the product and the personal preferences of the pet.

Recommended wet food

Among manufacturers, there are many companies that produce quality products. However, there are also fakes, so it is imperative to pay attention to the quality of the packaging.

The most popular brands of wet food are:

• Flatazor. It contains dietary meat and phytoactive components.
• Doctor Alders. It has a wide range of different flavors. The composition contains only natural ingredients that exclude the development of allergic reactions.
• Felidae Inexpensive and good food for kittens. Reviews from breeders confirm that the composition is natural, it contains all the necessary microelements and recommended vitamins.
• Hills. The composition contains only natural meat. Enriched with magnesium, phosphorus and calcium, necessary for a growing body.

Premium kitten food has only positive reviews from breeders. Their composition meets all the requirements of specialists and does not cause problems with the kitten’s digestive system.

Selection rules

Despite the same advantages of dry and wet food, many pet owners are faced with the problem of choice. Professional breeders advise choosing the following brands of dry food:

1. Royal Canin.
2. ProPlan.
3. Eagle Pack Holistic Select.

These manufacturers offer a wide range of feeds, but their prices are not suitable for everyone. It is worth noting that feeding cheap analogues can negatively affect the kitten’s health. The thing is that the economy version always contains too much salt and preservatives.

Many people prefer canned kitten food. Which is better? Reviews from veterinarians indicate that it is better to prefer a type that completely excludes flavorings. Of course, premium brands cannot be stored for long. Therefore, they are placed on a plate immediately before consumption.